He didn't use it for six years.
Not because he was moral. Because he was weak. Rank 10 soul power was the starting line. The village chief was Rank 23. One angry chief could snap him like a twig, system or not. And the system warned about backlash.
So he trained. Every morning before sunrise, he ran until his lungs burned. He practiced the basic meditation method Elder Mo gave him, but modified it. The system didn't give him techniques, but it did give him perfect awareness of his soul power. He could feel every sliver, guide it, compress it. By twelve, he was Rank 19. Fast, but not unheard of for King-tier.
Lin Yue died when he was twelve. Fever took her in three days. The village buried her under a crooked stone. Xiao Zhan stood there, dry-eyed, and burned the entire concept of "going back to normal" in his mind.
He left Blackrock Village that night.
The city of Southhaven was two weeks on foot. He stole food twice, worked for coppers three times, and slept in ditches the rest. He arrived looking like a feral child and immediately got mugged.
The mugging was what he'd been waiting for.
They were three. The leader was maybe sixteen, Rank 13, martial soul was a rusty dagger. He called himself "Knife Li." He pressed that dagger to Xiao Zhan's throat and said, "Coins or blood, little beggar."
Xiao Zhan looked at him and thought: _Mark_.
*[Target Detected: Li Gou, Rank 13]*
*[Compatibility: 87%]*
*[Proceed with Marking? Y/N]*
_Yes._
There was no light show. No thunder. Knife Li blinked, then dropped his dagger. His two friends looked confused. Then all three dropped to one knee in the alley.
"We greet the Young King," Knife Li said, voice flat but eyes burning.
Xiao Zhan felt it. A thread, invisible, connected his chest to Li Gou's forehead. Through it came a flood: Li Gou's memories, his skills, his fears. He knew where Li Gou slept, who he hated, how he threw a knife. And underneath it all, a single absolute directive that Xiao Zhan hadn't put there: _Obey. Protect. Die for him if needed._
*[Mark Successful. 1/3 Slots Used]*
*[Marked: Li Gou - Rank 13 - Loyalty: Absolute]*
*[New Function Unlocked: Mark Vision - See through Marked's eyes at will]*
"Stand up," Xiao Zhan said, testing the word.
They stood.
"From now on, you don't mug kids. You gather information. Who buys illegal spirit herbs. Which guards take bribes. Who wants someone dead and has silver."
"Understood," the three said in unison.
That was the start of The Veil.